Hi all. My buddy has a 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 5.2 with about 240k miles. He drove around town the other day and the truck overheated and stalled. I came over and replaced the thermostat. We got it back home and noted that there was a small hole in the radiator. Fixed the leak and tested in the morning.

Filled the radiator, ran the engine until warm...no leaks. Drove about 5 miles down the road and noticed water vapor coming out the tailpipe. Truck stalled and we pulled off the air cleaner. We ran the motor again and noted the following:

• Water was coming from both hoses out of the valve cover.
• Water vapor coming up from throttle body.
• Water vapor in exhaust.
• No water present on dipstick oil

I know it is possible that the throttle body and exhaust water vapor could be coming from the intake manifold PCV port. I originally thought the new-found water pressure on the system likely assisted in blowing a head gasket thereby allowing water under one valve cover and to a cylinder. Now that I see it in both, I'm not so sure.

Question 1: How is it possible for both heads to get so much coolant under each valve cover?

Question 2: Where is it likely coming from? What is leaking, transferring, etc?

We have a FelPro engine gasket kit with replacement gaskets for both heads, intake, TB, etc.

 

Sounds like cracked heads or blown head gaskets.

 

Head gasket. Best to have heads checked before re-installing too.

 

I can understand a blown head gasket on one...but both at the same time? There is so much water that it is bogging the engine down.

 

It overheated.
So likely it was too much for the heads. BOOM
Cracko.

 

Ah. Gotcha. Thanks for the "heads" up and responses. We're changing them out this weekend.

 

I'm no expert but I don't see why not.